By Johan Potgieter, cluster industrial software lead at Schneider Electric.
Greener blockchain, who would have thought? Blockchain’s very nature sees it consuming a lot of energy; with great power comes great power usage. But here we are, and green blockchain continues to garner significant attention, driven by the heightened awareness of the environmental consequences of blockchain-related systems.
According to ScienceDirect’s report ‘Green blockchain – a move towards sustainability’, green blockchain entails the utilisation of said technology in a sustainable manner by prioritising the reduction of carbon emissions and energy consumption.
The report says that in recent times there has been a surge in the establishment of green blockchain initiatives. These operate within the broader blockchain ecosystem, which encompasses a comprehensive network of technologies, companies, organisations and individuals engaged in the development, deployment and utilisation of green blockchain-based solutions.
Johan Potgieter, cluster industrial software lead at Schneider Electric.
The greener supply chain
The above developments offer a real advantage to organisations that utilise blockchain in their daily operations. One such operation is the supply chain, which benefits not only from greener blockchain operations, but also from the sustainability and eco-friendly gains that come with utilising the technology.
For example, by integrating blockchain with AI-driven analytics, supply chains can monitor energy usage, emissions and waste, identifying opportunities for improvement. Blockchain therefore ensures the accuracy and trustworthiness of this data, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to implement eco-friendly initiatives.
Furthermore, blockchain improves traceability and transparency, which bolster greener supply chain management. This is especially important in sectors like food and beverage and pharmaceutical, where it’s important to confirm the legitimacy and quality of the items.
Combined with AI, blockchain enables real-time tracking of products from their origin to the end consumer. This transparency ensures that claims such as organic certification, fair trade and responsible sourcing are verifiable, driving sustainable practices across the supply chain.
Blockchain’s immutable records also reassure consumers about the authenticity of products, whether it’s organic produce or ethically sourced clothing. Again, this builds trust and strengthens brand loyalty and contributes to a company’s overarching sustainability efforts.
Contributing to the value chain and improved service delivery, blockchain’s distributed ledger architecture minimises reliance on single points of failure. This decentralisation facilitates quicker identification of alternative suppliers or routes, ensuring supply chains remain operational under challenging circumstances.
Promoting social responsibility
AI can monitor labour conditions, verifying compliance with ethical standards such as fair wages and safe working environments. Adding to this functionality is blockchain’s ability to provide an immutable record of these practices, thus holding all stakeholders accountable.
Lastly, by enabling direct interactions between producers and consumers, blockchain-based supply chains enhance visibility and ensure fair compensation for small-scale farmers, artisans and businesses. This democratises the supply chain and promotes inclusivity.
Sustainable energy management Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Utilising its innovative ONE approach technology, Siemens provides complete transparency on resource consumption and offers data-driven optimisation recommendations for sustainable energy management.
Read more...Paving the way for a carbon-neutral future in South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
At ABB Electrification, we believe the infrastructure of the future must do more than support daily operations, it must anticipate them. We are committed to building intelligent systems that connect and optimise infrastructure across sectors.
Read more...Protecting buildings’ embodied carbon with retrofitted systems Schneider Electric South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
The World Economic Forum has said that around 80% of the buildings in existence will still be around in 2050; it is therefore essential that in order to combat climate change we retrofit them for energy efficiency.
Read more...Three decarbonisation myths and how organisations can debunk them Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
A UN Climate Change Report revealed that the world is on track to miss its 2050 net zero targets, with temperatures expected to increase by over 2,4°C by 2100. To help shift positive intent to concrete action, Schneider Electric outlined three of the most common myths surrounding decarbonisation and how organisations can get started on their decarbonisation journey.
Read more...Africa’s hidden AI advantage
IT in Manufacturing
Through my work implementing AI systems across three continents, I’ve become convinced that Africa’s unique context demands urgent AI adoption. Successful implementation requires local expertise to understand resource constraints as design parameters to create the innovations that make technology truly work under real-world conditions.
Read more...Siemens Xcelerator empowers space-tech pioneer, Skyroot Aerospace Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced that Skyroot Aerospace, a leading private space launch service company in India, has adopted Polarion software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio to digitally transform its software development processes and enhance efficiency as it aims to accelerate access to space for its customers worldwide.
Read more...Water is running out, is your ESG strategy ready?
IT in Manufacturing
Water is one of the most critical yet undervalued resources in modern business. Water stewardship asks businesses to understand their water footprint across the entire value chain and to engage with others who share the same water resources.
Read more...Cybersecurity in 2025: Six trends to watch
IT in Manufacturing
Rockwell Automation’s?10th?State?of?Smart?Manufacturing report finds that cybersecurity risks are a major, ever-present obstacle, and are now the third-largest impediment to growth in the next 12?months.
Read more...The state of the smart buildings market in 2025
IT in Manufacturing
Smart buildings are entering a transformative phase, driven by sustainability goals, technological innovation and evolving user expectations. According to ABI Research’s latest whitepaper, the sector is undergoing a strategic overhaul across key areas like retrofitting, energy efficiency, data-driven operations and smart campus development.
Read more...Digital twin for Bavaria’s National Theatre Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Siemens and the Bavarian State Opera are digitalising the acoustics in Bavaria’s National Theatre in Munich, Germany. The result is a digital twin that simulates sound effects, orchestral setups and venue configurations in a realistic 3D acoustic model so that musicians, the director and conductors can assess a concert hall’s acoustics even before the first rehearsal.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version